StMaryNow.com | Franklin Banner-Tribune & Morgan City Daily-Review | St. Mary Parish, La. - Patterson City Councilhttp://www.daily-review.com/patterson-city-council
enPatterson mayor’s pay doubledhttp://www.daily-review.com/local/patterson-mayor%E2%80%99s-pay-doubled
<div class="field field-name-field-image field-type-image field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" rel="og:image rdfs:seeAlso" resource="http://www.daily-review.com/sites/stmarynow.com/files/styles/medium/public/field/image/15-jan-7-patterson-council-mayor-zach.jpg?itok=6MqDUvMw"><img typeof="foaf:Image" src="http://www.daily-review.com/sites/stmarynow.com/files/styles/medium/public/field/image/15-jan-7-patterson-council-mayor-zach.jpg?itok=6MqDUvMw" width="350" height="246" alt="" /><blockquote class="image-field-caption">
<p>Patterson Mayor Rodney Grogan speaks during Tuesday’s City Council meeting. The City Council voted a raise for the mayor.<br />
(The Daily Review Photo by Zachary Fitzgerald)</p>
</blockquote>
</div><div class="field-item odd" rel="og:image rdfs:seeAlso" resource="http://www.daily-review.com/sites/stmarynow.com/files/styles/medium/public/field/image/15-jan-7-patterson-swearing-in-crystal.jpg?itok=CzKa_kxU"><img typeof="foaf:Image" src="http://www.daily-review.com/sites/stmarynow.com/files/styles/medium/public/field/image/15-jan-7-patterson-swearing-in-crystal.jpg?itok=CzKa_kxU" width="350" height="228" alt="" /><blockquote class="image-field-caption">
<p>The City of Patterson held an inaugural ceremony for city officials before Tuesday’s council meeting. From left are City Attorney Russel Cremaldi and council members Sandra Turner, Travis Darnell, Joe Russo and Larry Mendoza. Turner, Darnell, Councilman John Rentrop and Mayor Rodney Grogan had already been sworn in Dec. 30, 2014, while Russo and Mendoza were officially sworn in Tuesday.<br />
(The Daily Review Photo by Crystal Thielepape)</p>
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</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-dateline field-type-text field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Patterson, La. --</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"><p>The mayor’s salary and benefits slightly more than doubled Tuesday night over the previous salary with the City Council’s approval, the first time an increase to the mayor’s salary has occurred in 35 years, according to city officials.<br />
At Tuesday’s council meeting, the council passed an ordinance to increase the mayor’s annual salary to $35,400 with an annual car allowance of $6,000 and annual phone allowance of $600 for a total of $42,000. The council amended the ordinance to make the pay raise go into effect immediately.<br />
The previous salary was $20,000 annually without any benefits. When the ordinance was introduced in December 2014, Councilman Joe Russo referenced that the Berwick mayor makes $36,000 a year.<br />
During the public hearing for the ordinance, several members of the audience spoke. Patterson resident Leslie Burke said she did not see how the mayor could ask for a raise when the city has roads that need to be fixed.<br />
Preston Gill, a Bayou Vista resident and former Daily Review reporter, said many city charters prohibit the mayor’s salary and benefits from increasing during a term, but “for some unexplained reason, the Patterson charter was written so only the mayor’s benefits can increase during his term.”<br />
Gill said there is nothing unfair about compensating someone for what they agreed to do a job for, but doing so during his term “smells of cronyism and politics.”<br />
Gill also said the mayor has three outstanding state ethics commission fines. Upon checking the Louisiana Ethics Administration’s website, Grogan has three outstanding $1,000 fines listed for not filing supplemental campaign finance reports dated Oct. 2, 2010.<br />
This morning, Grogan said he was going to call the ethics administration to find out what those fines are for and provide The Daily Review with that information.<br />
Grogan said he already paid a $2,500 fine in 2014 for failing to file a separate campaign finance personal disclosure report. Grogan provided The Daily Review with documents showing that ethics charges were dismissed Dec. 3, 2014, due to lack of subject matter jurisdiction, for claims that he failed to file 2011 and 2012 supplemental campaign finance reports.<br />
Councilman Joe Russo, who has served under three different mayors, said giving a pay raise to the mayor’s position can never be about a specific mayor. For the past 18 months, the council has done research on what to do with the mayor’s salary and benefits.<br />
Eight years ago, the council received an increase in pay, but the mayor did not receive an increase in pay, Russo said.<br />
Russo did not realize the last increase in the mayor’s salary was 35 years ago, he said. “What we proposed is all about being fair. It’s not about Rodney Grogan.”<br />
The city eliminated the city manager’s position so the city has the money to pay the mayor more, Russo said. “Give the seat what the seat deserves,” Russo said.<br />
Russo believes the public should always be allowed to speak, but some of the public comments might have been a “witch hunt,” he said.<br />
Patterson resident Nia Paul said the mayor should get a raise because he has done his job and brought Patterson up from a place that was “very dark.” Though the city does have problems with the roads and other infrastructure, those issues should not be a deciding factor as to whether the mayor gets a raise.<br />
Responding to the issues with the city’s roads, Patterson Public Works Director Steve Bierhorst said with about $6 million he could fix all the streets. “We don’t have that kind of money,” Bierhorst said.<br />
In the spring of 2015, an item will be on the parish ballot to rededicate part of a library board millage to be used for maintenance of roads in the parish, excluding Morgan City, which already has a dedicated road royalty tax, he said.<br />
Patterson would then be able to issue bonds to pay for road repairs, he said. “The proceeds from that millage will pay that 10-year bond for $950,000,” Bierhorst said.<br />
Patterson City Tax Collector Angela Shilling-Boyles said, referring to the people who spoke in opposition of the pay raise, “I honestly feel in my heart that this is a situation about people that don’t like Mayor Rodney Grogan.”<br />
Also at the meeting, Pamela Washington was reappointed as city clerk. Grogan announced that Washington will retire Jan. 31 after being employed by the city for 44 years. Therefore, another clerk will have to be reappointed in February, Grogan said.<br />
In other business, the council:<br />
—Approved an amendment to the budget to provide for the transfer of $361,000 from the sewerage and solid waste tax fund to the general fund. The money is to provide excess revenues in the general fund to provide evidence that the city has the ability to make sufficient and timely debt service payments on the issuance of $1 million in excess revenue bonds that are required to complete construction of a new water plant.<br />
—Voted to appoint Russo as mayor pro-tem.<br />
—Accepted a bid on surplus items.<br />
—Approved renewal of TechePulse Consulting LLC contract.<br />
—Approved a resolution to accept the mayor’s appointments of Angela Shilling-Boyles as tax collector, Russel Cremaldi as city attorney and J.P. Morella as city magistrate.</p>
</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-kicker field-type-text-long field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">By ZACHARY FITZGERALD
zfitzgerald@daily-review.com</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-section field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-inline clearfix"><div class="field-label">Section:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/local" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype=""><span>Local</span></a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-tags field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-inline clearfix"><div class="field-label">Tags:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/patterson-mayor" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype=""><span>Patterson Mayor</span></a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/patterson-city-council" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype=""><span>Patterson City Council</span></a></div></div></div>Wed, 07 Jan 2015 20:22:43 +0000Harlan Kirgan25870 at http://www.daily-review.comhttp://www.daily-review.com/local/patterson-mayor%E2%80%99s-pay-doubled#commentsPatterson mayor may get pay hikehttp://www.daily-review.com/local/patterson-mayor-may-get-pay-hike
<div class="field field-name-field-image field-type-image field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" rel="og:image rdfs:seeAlso" resource="http://www.daily-review.com/sites/stmarynow.com/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/patterson-mayor.jpg?itok=5ALLGsb4"><a href="/local/patterson-mayor-may-get-pay-hike"><span><img typeof="foaf:Image" src="http://www.daily-review.com/sites/stmarynow.com/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/patterson-mayor.jpg?itok=5ALLGsb4" width="140" height="100" alt="" /></span></a><blockquote class="image-field-caption">
<p>Patterson Mayor Rodney Grogan is shown at Tuesday's City Council meeting.<br />
(The Daily Review Photo by Zachary Fitzgerald)</p>
</blockquote>
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</ul>Wed, 03 Dec 2014 20:59:38 +0000Harlan Kirgan25078 at http://www.daily-review.comhttp://www.daily-review.com/local/patterson-mayor-may-get-pay-hike#commentsCouncil OKs $1M in water plant bondshttp://www.daily-review.com/local/council-oks-1m-water-plant-bonds
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</ul>Wed, 12 Nov 2014 21:18:15 +0000Harlan Kirgan24576 at http://www.daily-review.comhttp://www.daily-review.com/local/council-oks-1m-water-plant-bonds#commentsDarnell announces candidacy for Patterson council seat http://www.daily-review.com/local/darnell-announces-candidacy-patterson-council-seat
<div class="field field-name-field-image field-type-image field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" rel="og:image rdfs:seeAlso" resource="http://www.daily-review.com/sites/stmarynow.com/files/styles/medium/public/field/image/darnell-candidate.jpg?itok=NwKcwBhe"><img typeof="foaf:Image" src="http://www.daily-review.com/sites/stmarynow.com/files/styles/medium/public/field/image/darnell-candidate.jpg?itok=NwKcwBhe" width="350" height="342" alt="" /><blockquote class="image-field-caption">
<p>Travis Darnell</p>
</blockquote>
</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"><p>
NOTE: The Daily Review accepted candidate announcements until Oct. 1. Announcements submitted now will be referred to the advertising department. Announcements may be emailed to <a href="mailto:news@daily-review.com">news@daily-review.com</a> or delivered to the newspaper office at 1014 Front St., Morgan City. Announcements are subject to editing.<br />
The announcement for Travis “T.D.” Darnell follows.<br />
Fellow citizens, my name is Travis “T.D.” Darnell, and I’m seeking election to the Patterson City Council. I am a lifelong resident of Patterson. I am a graduate of Patterson High School and Nicholls State University with a bachelor’s of science in social services and a master’s of arts in psychological counseling.<br />
I am engaged to Latoya Johnson and we have a three-year-old daughter, Zion Darnell, who attends Immanuel Christian School. I am a member of Zion Chapel Methodist Church in Patterson and I serve as a youth mentor in a number of organizations. I am entering my second year in the teaching profession at Patterson Junior High School where I teach Louisiana history. In my first year at Patterson Junior High School, I scored a 3.5 (highly effective) in overall student growth, according to the Louisiana Department of Education.<br />
I believe that holding a political office is about the atmosphere a person breeds or generates regularly that continually adheres to the advancement of a community’s development. It’s not about political campaigning for a couple of months then forgetting promises; holding a political position requires toughness, understanding, compassion and one must be able to compromise.<br />
Although I am young, I share many of the same life experiences as everyone else in the City of Patterson. It is my duty as a native of Patterson to give back by enhancing our community with the knowledge I have acquired throughout my studies. We, the citizens of Patterson, will together create an environment that encourages thinking and the exchange of healthy dialogue.<br />
The City of Patterson is making great progress in improving the city for its residents. My platform is the youth. I believe by building stronger family structures and providing the youth of the city with progressive opportunities, our city will continue to grow. I firmly believe in the old saying, “charity extends beyond the grave” and that’s what I stand for.<br />
I want to develop a strong working relationship with the mayor, city council members, and other departments that provide their services to Patterson. More importantly, I want to develop strong relationships with every citizen in Patterson. As the old saying goes, “the power lies within the people.” Together we can continue to improve education, infrastructure and economics in our great city.<br />
I will not make empty promises, however, I promise to always make myself available to every citizen in Patterson. With the help of God and the citizens of Patterson, I will continue to make wholesome choices for our town.<br />
Information for the Nov. 4, Dec. 6 elections<br />
The qualifying period was Aug. 20, 21 and 22.<br />
Early voting is Oct. 21-28 (except Sunday) from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. for the Nov. 4 primary election.<br />
Early voting for the Dec. 6 general election is Nov. 22-29 (except Sunday) from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.<br />
Elections on the St. Mary Parish ballot include U.S. senator, U.S. representative, court of appeal judge, district judges, district attorney, school board member, justice of the peace, constables; Morgan City city court judge, Morgan City city court marshal; Patterson mayor, Patterson chief of police, Patterson council; Berwick mayor, Berwick council; Franklin city court judge, Franklin city court marshal; and Baldwin mayor, Baldwin chief of police and Baldwin aldermen. </p>
</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-section field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-inline clearfix"><div class="field-label">Section:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/local" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype=""><span>Local</span></a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-tags field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-inline clearfix"><div class="field-label">Tags:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/travis-darnell" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype=""><span>Travis Darnell</span></a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/patterson-city-council" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype=""><span>Patterson City Council</span></a></div></div></div>Fri, 10 Oct 2014 18:09:08 +0000Zachary Fitzgerald23708 at http://www.daily-review.comhttp://www.daily-review.com/local/darnell-announces-candidacy-patterson-council-seat#commentsPatterson alters water plant plan http://www.daily-review.com/local/patterson-alters-water-plant-plan
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</ul>Wed, 08 Oct 2014 19:27:49 +0000Harlan Kirgan23624 at http://www.daily-review.comhttp://www.daily-review.com/local/patterson-alters-water-plant-plan#comments$9.4M Patterson water plant approved http://www.daily-review.com/local/94m-patterson-water-plant-approved
<div class="field field-name-field-image field-type-image field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" rel="og:image rdfs:seeAlso" resource="http://www.daily-review.com/sites/stmarynow.com/files/styles/medium/public/field/image/Grogan%2C%20Rodney%202013_2.jpg?itok=sJROBokM"><img typeof="foaf:Image" src="http://www.daily-review.com/sites/stmarynow.com/files/styles/medium/public/field/image/Grogan%2C%20Rodney%202013_2.jpg?itok=sJROBokM" width="350" height="402" alt="" /><blockquote class="image-field-caption">
<p>Patterson Mayor Rodney Grogan </p>
</blockquote>
</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-dateline field-type-text field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Patterson, La.--</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"><p>After three-and-a-half years, the city was given federal approval of its water plant’s design and construction, Mayor Rodney Grogan announced at Tuesday’s City Council meeting.<br />
“We will have our $9.4 million water plant,” Grogan said, as he encouraged council members to stand and share in the credit of working through what he called federal bureaucratic red tape.<br />
“I want to thank the public for knowing what we need and allowing us to move forward with this project,’ Grogan said.<br />
Clay Breaud, city engineer of Progressive GSE, said public bids must be taken and awarded with council approval, but that it is possible for ground to be broken on the project in June.<br />
Grogan said other infrastructure and public improvement projects continue to move forward in Patterson.<br />
The city recently completed a street assessment, which was last done in the 1970s, Grogan said. Seven sections of roadway were given a high priority for remediation. With council approval, Jeffrey LaGrange was appointed to chair a roads/street committee that will utilize that assessment to make decisions about street upgrades in Patterson.<br />
The council passed a resolution in support of the creation of a cultural district and an ordinance for a historic district.<br />
Historic districts allow the owners of older homes to recoup nearly half of the expense of renovations on their homes through 45 percent tax credits that are available to them, parish consultant Lucian Cutrera said.<br />
The historic district ordinance creates a nine-member commission, all appointed by the mayor. Work that affects anything beyond repainting the building the same color or repairs from damages must be approved by the commission. New buildings erected in the district must get commission approval. Mobile homes will not be allowed in the district except on a temporary basis after receiving a permit from the commission.<br />
The purpose of the district will be preservation of the buildings within the district with architectural and historical value.<br />
The district encompasses land sites between Church and Catherine streets and bounded by Main Street.<br />
Cutrera gave an update on the parish hazard mitigation plan, which went into effect in 2004 at the behest of the Federal Emergency Management Agency and must be updated every five years. The plan identifies weaknesses that exist in the communities’ ability to respond or prepare for emergency and disaster situations. Those weaknesses are then prioritized by the communities and parishes and remedial actions are planned and executed when funding is available.<br />
The Patterson Police Department is attempting to procure a computer-aided dispatch system. The city received a single bid for that project, which was for nearly $210,000. The mayor accepted the bid under advisement and said he would pass it on to Police Chief Patrick LaSalle, who was not at the meeting.<br />
The bid proposal from Certified Software Solutions of Louisiana from Mandeville to provide for the system along with licenses, software and support was $189,716. An estimated bid of $18,740 from Campbell Technology Consultants from Houma to install the system was provided in the packet.<br />
There remains about $150,000 in the capital outlay fund to pay for the system, Grogan said.<br />
Steve Bierhorst, public works director and parish councilman, made his first presentation before the council as chairman of the Cypress Sawmill Festival. He was introduced by outgoing chairman David Bourdier, who has served as chairman the past 24 years.<br />
Bierhorst thanked the city for its support of the festival, which is a fundraiser for the Wedell-Williams Aviation and Cypress Sawmill Museum. The festival will be held this year April 4 to 6.<br />
The festival is an economic boost to the Patterson economy, Bierhorst said.<br />
In other business;<br />
—Butch Felterman extolled the beauty of the Lower Atchafalaya River on which he was raised. He said it pained him greatly to begin to hear the “bigger, better and deeper” Lower Atchafalaya River called Bayou Teche. The city issued a proclamation that the waterway from one mile north of Patterson to Berwick Bay “shall forever be referred to in the official records of the City of Patterson as the Lower Atchafalaya River.” It also proclaimed that all persons, including public officials and educators will be asked to refer to it by that name in their duties, teachings, surveys and writings.<br />
—Greg Aucoin talked about his candidacy for district court judge. He said his history as a civil and defense attorney as well as prosecutor, has given him an understanding of human nature and empathy for people of all walks of life. He said he knows people want to be treated with dignity and respect and has the temperament to deal with people’s pain and frustration.<br />
—Aqua Safety First made a presentation stating they want to continue to pursue their vision of helping under-privileged kids learn to swim.<br />
—A can shake for AAU basketball team was approved for Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon.<br />
—A resolution was passed to meet the requirements of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s grant for the water plant construction. The resolution restated the city’s water rates established in 2012 by ordinance.</p>
</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-kicker field-type-text-long field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">By PRESTON GILL
pgill@daily-review.com</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-section field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-inline clearfix"><div class="field-label">Section:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/local" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype=""><span>Local</span></a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-tags field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-inline clearfix"><div class="field-label">Tags:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/patterson-mayor" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype=""><span>Patterson Mayor</span></a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/patterson-city-council" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype=""><span>Patterson City Council</span></a></div></div></div>Wed, 12 Mar 2014 19:45:33 +0000Harlan Kirgan17884 at http://www.daily-review.comhttp://www.daily-review.com/local/94m-patterson-water-plant-approved#commentsPatterson audit meets charter rule http://www.daily-review.com/local/patterson-audit-meets-charter-rule
<div class="field field-name-field-image field-type-image field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" rel="og:image rdfs:seeAlso" resource="http://www.daily-review.com/sites/stmarynow.com/files/styles/medium/public/field/image/Grogan%2C%20Rodney%202013_1.jpg?itok=LDilGOoK"><img typeof="foaf:Image" src="http://www.daily-review.com/sites/stmarynow.com/files/styles/medium/public/field/image/Grogan%2C%20Rodney%202013_1.jpg?itok=LDilGOoK" width="350" height="526" alt="" /><blockquote class="image-field-caption">
<p>Patterson Mayor Rodney Grogan</p>
</blockquote>
</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-dateline field-type-text field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Patterson, La.</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"><p>For the first time in many years, the annual audit of Patterson city government was given to the council in a public meeting Tuesday night as is required by the city charter.<br />
Alan Taylor of Kolder, Champagne, Slaven &amp; Company offered no surprises in his presentation of the audit and said corrections to the findings have already been put in place by the city.<br />
Taylor’s audit produced an unmodified opinion with six negative findings; most of which had been reported by The Daily Review last year and prompted Mayor Rodney Grogan to begin what he called “corrective measures mode.”<br />
An unmodified audit does not include any caveats because the auditor has access to all the necessary documentation to accomplish the audit, Taylor explained.<br />
Two of the findings began to be corrected within weeks of a series of articles by The Daily Review. The articles revealed the city went more than two years without publishing minutes of its public meetings in the official journal and uncovered the city was allowing six credit cards to be used for expenses that were not always accompanied with proper documentation of their business nature.<br />
Grogan’s administration immediately began submitting meeting minutes after the articles and also began the process of implementing a credit card usage policy that controls the use of the cards and requires better documentation of purchases. Taylor noted those measures have been implemented.<br />
Two negative findings dealt with the city not following its charter as to the timeliness of presenting financial reports and the fiscal operating budget. These were findings in the previous audit which were unresolved but Taylor said he thinks the administration now has a handle on the issue and it will be resolved so that the reports are given to the council within the time frame demanded by the charter.<br />
A finding stated the city had material adjustments that needed to be made to its financial statement, which Taylor said he often finds in his audits of other entities. He said that in working with city accountant Reginald Weary, he expects the issue will be resolved.<br />
The final finding showed the city budget had a pair of instances with variances in budgeted funds that exceeded the 5 percent allowed by state law without having to amend the budget. The city’s response said monthly budget reports are prepared that compare the budget to actual revenues and expenses. Those reports, the city said, will enable it to make timely adjustments to projected budget forecasts when they exceed the 5 percent variable.<br />
“We have taken corrective measures and we are moving forward,” Grogan said, as Taylor concluded his presentation.<br />
Fay Babin asked the council and public to join in her grassroots crusade to give career criminals meaningful prison sentences. Babin was featured in The Daily Review claiming she had been victimized with burglaries by the same man at least six times. The man she says is the culprit, James Joseph Sr., was arrested nearly 40 times since 1972 with multiple convictions, according to St. Mary Parish Clerk of Court records.<br />
She picked up at least one more person for her petition with a signature after the meeting. Tim Aucoin said he supports her drive. He said he wants law enforcement and the court system to work together in getting career criminals arrested and kept behind bars.<br />
Babin expressed her appreciation to Police Chief Patrick LaSalle for his support and for officers responding each time she called them out. Joseph was arrested on Oct. 30 after Babin said she came home and found him in her house. She said she can be reached at <a href="mailto:faybabin@gmail.com">faybabin@gmail.com</a> for information on how to sign her petition.<br />
LaSalle requested his addition to the agenda on a separate issue before the meeting began. He said his department has a procedure currently in place for officer promotion and rankings, but it is being reviewed by city attorney Russel Cremaldi in a written form.<br />
The Patterson Police Department has two corporals, a sergeant, a captain and an assistant chief. The department has a lieutenant position, but no officers currently hold that rank, LaSalle said.<br />
The police chief also approved a permit for a Martin Luther King Jr. parade on Jan. 20. The route of the parade will be from Grout Street to Main Street to Cleveland Street and ends on Cherry Street.<br />
Public Works Director Steve Bierhorst said that while Willow Street has only one family living there now, the city expects future development on the street and is planning on a sewer line. But the city is not equipped to tie in the line at the man hole location on Taft Street so that portion of the project has to be let out to bids.<br />
The city hopes to save money by tying the Willow Street project in with the Martin Luther King Sewer Rehabilitation Project which is expected to go out to bids in about a month, Bierhorst said.</p>
</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-kicker field-type-text-long field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">By PRESTON GILL
pgill@dailyreview.com</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-section field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-inline clearfix"><div class="field-label">Section:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/local" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype=""><span>Local</span></a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-tags field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-inline clearfix"><div class="field-label">Tags:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/patterson-mayor" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype=""><span>Patterson Mayor</span></a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/patterson-city-council" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype=""><span>Patterson City Council</span></a></div></div></div>Wed, 08 Jan 2014 21:03:10 +0000Harlan Kirgan16278 at http://www.daily-review.comhttp://www.daily-review.com/local/patterson-audit-meets-charter-rule#commentsPatterson officials working to fix an array of audit issues http://www.daily-review.com/patterson-officials-working-fix-array-audit-issues
<div class="field field-name-field-subhead field-type-text field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Top stories</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-image field-type-image field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" rel="og:image rdfs:seeAlso" resource="http://www.daily-review.com/sites/stmarynow.com/files/styles/medium/public/field/image/Patterson-mayor-Rodney-Grogan.jpg?itok=jYw57QPC"><img typeof="foaf:Image" src="http://www.daily-review.com/sites/stmarynow.com/files/styles/medium/public/field/image/Patterson-mayor-Rodney-Grogan.jpg?itok=jYw57QPC" width="350" height="282" alt="" /><blockquote class="image-field-caption">
<p>Patterson Mayor Rodney Grogan responded to audit reports with an agenda to correct procedures. (The Daily Review Photo)</p>
</blockquote>
</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-dateline field-type-text field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Patterson, La.</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"><p>The discovery that the City of Patterson was not following its city charter prompted an investigation by The Daily Review which revealed the Louisiana Legislative Auditor’s website showed Patterson had been in violation of its charter, best accepted accounting practices and state law for over a decade.<br />
Immediately after the first in a series of articles in mid-September, Mayor Rodney Grogan began what he called “corrective measures” and changing from the “protocol of my predecessors,” an endeavor he continues as the new year dawns.<br />
A reporter was told the city does not make a public presentation of its annual audit because it is not required by state law, which is accurate, but the failure violates the city charter. Thus began a weeks-long investigation, interviewing more than 20 people, including a dozen from Patterson city government.<br />
The first article reported the city had not publishing the minutes of its public meetings in the official journal for more than two years. This was a finding in the audit that had been released in January, but as was the custom, the audit was not publicly released or discussed.<br />
Grogan said that he was unaware of the audit finding. Within days of the report the city’s administration began publishing the missed city council meeting minutes. The audit for fiscal 2012-13 will be presented in January or February depending on the auditor’s availability, Grogan said Monday.<br />
Audit reports revealed at least three negative findings of state law and/or charter violations each year in Patterson since 2000 with repeated violations spanning three mayoral administrations.<br />
Further reporting looked closer at how the city spent its revenues and found:<br />
—The annual community fair lost $26,388 in 2012 and $19,513 in 2013.<br />
—Elected officials and employees spent more than $100,000 — double the amount budgeted — on travel in the previous fiscal year.<br />
In the aftermath of the articles, Grogan pushed through policies dealing with credit card usage and is in the process of addressing the use of city vehicles.<br />
Grogan and some on the city council credit the reporting with initiating a process of change they say will work for the betterment of the city.<br />
“I really believe from my heart that was a good thing for the city,” Councilman Joe Russo said of the articles.<br />
“We are in corrective mode now and are moving ahead,” Grogan said Monday.</p>
</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-kicker field-type-text-long field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">By PRESTON GILL
pgill@daily-review.com</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-tags field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-inline clearfix"><div class="field-label">Tags:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/patterson-mayor" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype=""><span>Patterson Mayor</span></a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/patterson-city-council" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype=""><span>Patterson City Council</span></a></div></div></div>Thu, 02 Jan 2014 20:39:07 +0000Harlan Kirgan16132 at http://www.daily-review.comhttp://www.daily-review.com/patterson-officials-working-fix-array-audit-issues#commentsPolicy parks city cars at day’s end http://www.daily-review.com/local/policy-parks-city-cars-day%E2%80%99s-end
<div class="field field-name-field-subhead field-type-text field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Patterson City Council </div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-image field-type-image field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" rel="og:image rdfs:seeAlso" resource="http://www.daily-review.com/sites/stmarynow.com/files/styles/medium/public/field/image/Grogan%2C%20Rodney%202013_0.jpg?itok=2LPLs5fD"><img typeof="foaf:Image" src="http://www.daily-review.com/sites/stmarynow.com/files/styles/medium/public/field/image/Grogan%2C%20Rodney%202013_0.jpg?itok=2LPLs5fD" width="350" height="526" alt="" /><blockquote class="image-field-caption">
<p>Patterson Mayor Rodney Grogan</p>
</blockquote>
</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-dateline field-type-text field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Patterson, La.</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"><p>The City Council appears ready to implement a policy that will prohibit city employees, including police, from taking home city vehicles once their shift is over, or use them for any other non-city business reason.<br />
Council members dove into the vehicle-use policy Thursday afternoon at the latest in a series of workshops designed to work out the details of a new employee handbook.<br />
The council declined to consider a vehicle-use policy at Tuesday night’s regular council meeting.<br />
Mayor Rodney Grogan initiated a policy effective Sept. 19 that disallowed city vehicles from leaving the city limits at the end of a worker’s shift. The policy change primarily impacted police units of officers living outside of the city limits. Officers living inside the city could still bring their vehicles home. The new policy, if adopted, would keep all units parked on city property at the conclusion of a work shift.<br />
Police Chief Patrick LaSalle said the police department will respect the council’s decision if that is what they vote to accept as the new policy.<br />
“We are going to persevere. … We will move forward,” LaSalle said.<br />
The council agreed to a policy stating employees may not use city vehicles for non-business purposes under any circumstances except with the mayor’s approval.<br />
The four council members attending approved the addition. Councilwoman Sandra Turner was not at the workshop.<br />
Employees who are on call would still be allowed to bring a vehicle home.<br />
The city has four public works employees, including a supervisor, who rotate weekly on call assignments after hours or on the weekend, Steve Bierhorst, director of the department, said. During their week to be on call they are paid an extra hour a day in compensation and they run a daily weekend round of checks on the city’s pumps, he said.<br />
The new handbook meets the expectations of insurance carriers who have been clamoring for a more detailed City of Patterson employee handbook, Dave Lowery, city manager said.<br />
Lowery said he would try to email a final draft of the new policies and the rest of the handbook to the council members before the end of the year to allow vote on it at the Jan. 7, 2014, meeting.</p>
</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-kicker field-type-text-long field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">By PRESTON GILL
pgill@daily-review.com</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-section field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-inline clearfix"><div class="field-label">Section:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/local" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype=""><span>Local</span></a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-tags field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-inline clearfix"><div class="field-label">Tags:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/patterson-city-council" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype=""><span>Patterson City Council</span></a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/patterson-mayor" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype=""><span>Patterson Mayor</span></a></div><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/patterson-police-chief" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype=""><span>Patterson police chief</span></a></div></div></div>Fri, 06 Dec 2013 19:50:22 +0000Harlan Kirgan15562 at http://www.daily-review.comhttp://www.daily-review.com/local/policy-parks-city-cars-day%E2%80%99s-end#commentsPatterson council passes on vehicle policy http://www.daily-review.com/local/patterson-council-passes-vehicle-policy
<div class="field field-name-field-subhead field-type-text field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Boudier named parade marshal</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-image field-type-image field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" rel="og:image rdfs:seeAlso" resource="http://www.daily-review.com/sites/stmarynow.com/files/styles/medium/public/field/image/13%20Dec%2005%20Travis%20Bourdier%2C%20Patterson%20Christmas%20Parade.jpg?itok=WKQbMKfk"><img typeof="foaf:Image" src="http://www.daily-review.com/sites/stmarynow.com/files/styles/medium/public/field/image/13%20Dec%2005%20Travis%20Bourdier%2C%20Patterson%20Christmas%20Parade.jpg?itok=WKQbMKfk" width="350" height="468" alt="" /><blockquote class="image-field-caption">
<p>Injured volunteer firefighter and auxiliary police officer Travis Boudier is the marshal for the Patterson Christmas parade. (Daily Review Photo by Courtney Darce)</p>
</blockquote>
</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-dateline field-type-text field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Patterson, La.</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"><p>The City Council decided it did not tackle a policy regarding the use of city vehicles during Tuesday night’s council meeting.<br />
The use of city automobiles was discussed during a Monday workshop, but the council did not arrive at a consensus.<br />
Patterson Mayor Rodney Grogan grounded city vehicles from leaving the city limits after work hours with an emailed policy change effective Sept. 19. This policy primarily affected police units, several of which were being brought home by officers who lived outside of the city limits.<br />
Police Chief Patrick LaSalle attended the Monday workshop and insisted the safety of the city was at stake as he requested to allow eight special response units to be taken home at the end of the officers’ shifts, although they live out of town. He later insisted any financial savings gained by keeping the units in Patterson is outweighed by a degraded ability to respond effectively in an emergency.<br />
Steve Bierhorst, director of public works, said he performed an analysis of police fuel expenditures in the month after the units were grounded. The report showed the city saves about 1,000 gallons of fuel monthly by keeping the cars in the city when officers’ shifts expire, he said. The police department could save nearly $40,000 annually in fuel and maintenance expenses if the cars remain in the city, he said.<br />
LaSalle said that is a small price to pay for the security he insists is given with the officers keeping their units. He added that expenditures of his budget for automobile usage is within his discretion.<br />
LaSalle told council members at the Monday workshop that he will adopt whatever policy they choose but he asked that he get a resolution to the issue one way or the other as quickly as possible.<br />
The council will resume its workshops at 3:30 today at the Town Hall.<br />
In other matters Tuesday:<br />
—Beverly Domengeaux, executive director of St. Mary Council on Aging, said she appreciated the financial support of Patterson in serving 112 elderly citizens in Patterson citizens were served by her agency despite a cut in state funding.<br />
—City Attorney Russel Cremaldi was given a contract to serve as the city attorney for $500 monthly and a $175 hourly rate.<br />
—Grogan announced the city’s Christmas parade will be Dec. 13 with Travis Bourdier as the marshal.<br />
Bourdier was a volunteer firefighter and auxiliary police officer for Patterson when he was injured Sept. 28 in Morgan City. He suffered two broken legs after being hit by a vehicle while he was helping direct traffic from another crash.<br />
The lieutenants for the parade will be Brady Como and Jackie Como.</p>
</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-section field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-inline clearfix"><div class="field-label">Section:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/local" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype=""><span>Local</span></a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-tags field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-inline clearfix"><div class="field-label">Tags:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/patterson" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype=""><span>Patterson</span></a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/christmas-parade" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype=""><span>Christmas parade</span></a></div><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/patterson-city-council" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype=""><span>Patterson City Council</span></a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/patterson-mayor" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype=""><span>Patterson Mayor</span></a></div></div></div>Thu, 05 Dec 2013 21:19:24 +0000Harlan Kirgan15531 at http://www.daily-review.comhttp://www.daily-review.com/local/patterson-council-passes-vehicle-policy#comments